In a time of crisis, government intervention is both necessary and proper, but we must remember the damage governments can do when handed too much power. The measures implemented must not be economically damaging for generations to come, and the positive impacts of deregulation must not be overlooked.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments across the world have implemented a range of measures to try and curb the spread of the virus.  Some places like Spain and Italy have adopted a heavy-handed approach and have ordered citizens to only leave their homes if they need to buy food or medicine, or to go to work or hospital. On the other hand, some nations such as Sweden have adopted more liberalised measures. At present, it is the only country in Europe that has yet to close its borders or schools, and hasn’t banned gatherings of fewer than fifty people.

Regardless of individual state approaches, it is abundantly clear that during this pandemic, governments around the world have become more involved in the day to day lives of their citizens. For classical liberals, assessing the degree to which governments should respond to any given crisis can be tricky due to our beliefs on what precisely the correct role of governments is.